Morphology of the Prosternal Glands of Heliconius erato (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Figure 5
Transmission electron micrographs of the impair prosternal gland of Heliconius erato phyllis. (a) longitudinal section of secreting cells, showing irregular external sculpture of cuticle (open arrowheads) in a first instar; (b) longitudinal section of secreting cells of a fifth instar, with basal nucleus, several vesicles containing secretion in the cytoplasm, and abundant microvilli associated with the cuticular layers; (c) detail of the cytoplasm of cells from a fifth instar, showing well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex; (d) detail of the cytoplasm of cells from a fifth instar, showing numerous secretion vesicles. Cl: cuticular layers; Er: rough endoplasmic reticulum; Gc: Golgi complex; Nu: nucleus; Mv: microvilli; Sv: vesicle containing secretion. Scale bars: 2, 2, 0.4, 0.4 m, respectively.
